Grr, I'm on the hunt for elusive low fat cocoa powder. I recently bought 3 low fat cook books and they all mention it but don't mention where to get it! The only cocoa powder i can find contains about 20g of fat per 100g, am after one with about 5?
Please please please help me, am after suppliers?
Thanks Guys
Roisin x x

November 4, 20057:09 pm

Sebastian

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low fat cocoa powder is classified, at least in the US, as a 10/12 powder - meaning about 10-12% fat. they are available from many sources; howver most gourmet shoppes will carry the higher (22/24) powders as they have a more premium image. there are defatted (0/0.5%) powders out tehre, but exceptionally difficult to find for the time being.

November 4, 20057:24 pm

Hans-Peter Rot

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I have seen some cocoa powders in natural food stores that claim to be "fat free," but I didn't pay much attention to these. A lot of cocoa powder on the market is, as Sebastian noted, 10-12% fat content, which when put into perspective, comes out to be about 1-1.5g of fat per tablespoon. Other premium cocoas will contain up to 22% fat because more of the cocoa butter was left on the cocoa particles. Ghirardelli's unsweetened cocoa is a good stand-by. It's natural (i.e. not Dutched) and has 15 calories per tablespoon and 1.5g of fat (10-12% fat content). So in other words, look for this type of cocoa when you shop.

Also, you must be aware if the cocoa is Dutched (treated with an alkaline) or natural. In many baked goods, the recipe will specifically state "Dutched," "treated with alkali," or "natural." Never substitute Dutched for natural and vice versa because this will determine whether your baked good will be as flat as a hockey puck or light and fluffy. Dutched cocoa contains that alkaline that will cause the rising actions, but natural does not, so in the case you do substitute, you need to add a chemical leavener (i.e. baking soda).